Friends and neighbors,

Despite the Minnesota Senate failing to pass Governor Walz’s proposed comprehensive transportation package in the 2019 Legislative Session, we are moving forward.

This summer, we celebrated the opening of the METRO C Line, the metro’s second Bus Rapid Transit service that operates with higher amenity service in busy corridors. The C Line operates between Brooklyn Center and Minneapolis. And we broke ground on the METRO Orange Line that will connect Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington, and Burnsville along I-35W. On this side of the river, we celebrated the fifth anniversary of the METRO Green Line and continued to prepare and plan for the METRO Gold Line from Woodbury, Rush Line from White Bear Lake, and Riverview Corridor from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.

Most exciting, just a couple weeks ago, in response to calls from our Mayor Melvin Carter III, business and community leaders, we announced preliminary recommendations for the METRO B Line Bus Rapid Transit line, including extending the route from Bde Maka Ska all the way to the Union Depot. Thank you to all of you who made your voices heard at meetings, pop-ups, and community events. Planning will continue into and engineering will start next year, and pending full funding, we can look forward to construction in 2022.

Your newly appointed Metropolitan Council members are continuing to get out there, listening and learning from community leaders and partners across the metro, planning and budgeting for the future. Together, in addition to keeping up the fight for the safe and efficient transportation system the people of Minnesota deserve, we will do everything in our power to address Minnesota’s affordable housing and climate crises, and racial disparities across the region.

On a personal note, on Oct. 23, I had the opportunity to attend the Council’s Power of One 2019 Employee Recognition Program honoring more than 500 Council employees for their years of service and division awards. None of our work would be possible without the 4,300 Metropolitan Council employees who make our regional transportation, environmental services, community development, and administration work. Please join us in thanking and treating our public employees with the respect they deserve.

In solidarity,

Kris Fredson

Council Member Fredson serves on the Transportation, Environment, and Equity Advisory Committees at the Metropolitan Council, and the Riverview Corridor Policy Advisory Committee. He also serves as an alternate on the Transportation Advisory Board and the Rethinking I-94 Policy Advisory Committee.

There's a certain amount of uncertainty that comes with trying something new – like using some of the country's first 60-foot electric buses. But facing the unknown and accepting that things may not always go as planned is necessary to evolve. Learn about Metro Transit's plans for electric bus purchases.  

Up to 80% of excessive inflow and infiltration of stormwater and groundwater into the wastewater collection system comes from private property sources. Addressing those sources is critical to protecting public health and ensuring the wastewater system can handle future population growth. A Council demonstration grant will target private property sources.

Changes in climate are already affecting key infrastructure in the metro area like sewer and stormwater pipes and roads. For more than 15 years, the Council has been working on several fronts to reduce our carbon emissions at wastewater treatment plants and in our transit system, and plan for resilience. During #ClimateWeekMN, we are highlighting our work to help local governments plan for and manage public infrastructure to increase its lifespan and reduce costs.